With a 3 day weekend, it was finally time to hit DL for the 1st time this year, and the first chance to see the Party paraphanalia in Person.

Just inside DL's main entrance, the floral Clown Mickey greets guests

and his balloon bouquets

It's surprising the the fake floral hat is already fading and the summer season has yet to officially begin. Not a big fan of this newest display. It would have been nice just to have the regular Mickey floral here for a little while. Even the Tinkerbell lighting with Mickey on the previous floral, was much nicer than the current display.

And the circus continues inside DL with the Golden Invitation

With the night lighting on this envelope, it does look a little betterBut really, telling us to "Celebrate Today" is just a generic greeting that isn't special at all. They are trying to do too much with a theme that just doesn't have a focus.

The "Party Hats" continue up and down Main Street. The Hats are a cute idea for the planters,

BUT let's just say that the multi color choice of the FAKE Floral are rather hideous,They detract considerably from the normally beautiful Red, White, and Blue bunting on the Main Street buildings.

Real Flowers would look SO MUCH BETTER!

Thank goodness the real charm of Main Street is still around with the horse drawn Cars

and the Dapper Dans

And that the main hub still has real floral baskets which are Beautiful!

I always have to take a look in some of the shops on Main Street(and pretty much all the other shops) Here is some of the current merchandise selection:

the springtime Mickey Garden Gnome Gmerchandise is still available

And the current patriotic paraphanalia

Disney Traffic signs

And the 2nd round of Vinylmation was found all over DL and DCA.I am normally not a gambing type of person, but I did purchase 2 of these during my trip. I ended up with the brown and tan Mickey - which is a tribute to Snow White, and the Toy Story Alien Mickey. Although the Snow White tribute Mickey is extremely detailed, I'm more fond of the TS Alien Mickey.

There were also at least 4 new LARGE mickey Vinylmations available too.

And these two Mickey/Minnie backpacks caught my attention:

I always have to stop by the Disneyana Shop. and I found this new Olzeweski miniature of Splash Mountain:

After my little stroll on Main Street, I ran into some special people, who were celebrating something special . . . . in the next segment!

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While on Main Street, I heard someone call my name, turning around there was the inimitable KuzcoChuck and Friend! They were here for Kuzcochick's Birthday, and they let me join in their real celebration! Be sure to take a look at her report from last week, as that contains some of the fun we all had together. I'm just going to add a few pictures that confirm how much fun their trips really are.

In the interest of keeping the pictures somewhat better organized, this isn't necessarily in the order it all happened, as I will be combining pictures from Saturday, Sunday, and part of Monday.

Big Thunder was one of the stops. DW Chuck appears to be up to something here, (really he wasn't, it just looks that way ) But as you will see a little later, the other two ladies will seek their revenge in an evil way ...

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I had to include a nicer picture of ladies of the group.This is one of the very few pictures you will ever see ofKuzcochick without her trademarked open mouth pose.

If there was one picture that is my favorite of the day,here it is. Some of you out there are probably wondering what KuzcoChuck is like to be around on a trip to the Magic Kingdom. They say a picture is worth a million words,

I better not add any commentary to that . . .

so, back to the attraction, er, Big Thunder

I just got a new camera, so I was trying to see how well it would work on DL attractions, without using the flash. I was pleasantly surprised how well some turned out. Still have to figure out some settings, so I can improve upon the pictures, just posting some of the better ones here,

You know a true dl geek when the purchase considerations for cameras are if it will take good pictures without a flash in darkrides and shows.

Big Thunder offer the opportunity for outside and inside pictures

mostly outside

Next up on our adventure was the Haunted Mansion

and another non flash test of the new camera

of course those are all without a tripod, but maybe next time. I did try a few within the Mansion and a couple turned out ok,

Next up was Indy,

Welcome!

After exiting the temple of Mara, we ran into this other stone carving

soon to come, DL's 2nd streetacular and the hose you down parade in pixarlandia!

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After we got FastPasses for Space Mt, DarkwingChuck commented that he had never seen Honey I Shrunk the Audience. As Kuzcochick mentioned in her report, Chuck is fond of Captain EO, and wasn't pleased that it was replaced with HISTA, and has refused to watch it in protesting the removal of EO.

Until this very day

Although you don't see it in this photo, Chuck did really smile at least once during HISTA, after all how can you NOT laugh during the mouse infestation and the dog sneeze!

Then it was time for Space Mt.

Afterwards, we were going to check out roger rabbit, sadly the ride was down, so the ladies decided to drag Chuck on It's a Small World. I went willingly, since I hadn't seen the Disney characters added

Sometimes the queue time was more interesting than the attraction, itself

Here's where KuzcoChick surprized me with her "Darla" impersonation:

" I'M A PIR-AH-NAH!!!"

It was all good, because on our walk to Small World I surprised them with my "Fat Albert" impression! ( just the voice, not the face )

I won't post any of the rest of the Small World pics, as most of mine didn't turn out too well. Now I can review the revised Small World from the point of actually seein it ~ and you know what, my view didn't change much after seeing it in person. And that point is:

I liked the majority of the added characters, but jessie and woody HAVE TO GO, although I'm one of the few who like the USA scene. Stitch and Lilo should leave too, as the surfing Hawaiian boy is just too memorable to be removed.

( Looking back at this part of the report, maybe I was secretly wishing we would have ridden the Nemo Subs instead! )

Still to come, one jump over to DCA to catch the pixar wetness parade, a viewing of Aladdin, and then another jump back to DL for the streetacular, and more of adventureland.

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We did jump over to DCA for a few things, a fastpass for Tower of Terror was first on the list,then it was over to Monsters, Where we caught a monster in the process of using one of the vending machines in Monstropolis

Roz wished our birthday girl a Happy Birthday

While waiting for our fastpasses, we went to the Animation building

I Absolutely LOVE the lobby!!! It's one of my favorite place in all of DLR!But this is the first time I could get some half way decent pics of the lobby

We did watch the Toy Story zoetrope, and watched the entire lobby sequence, and then visited with Crush, although none of our group asked any questions it was fun as always.

During my trip, I also spent some extra time in the Sorcerer's Workshop. Ever since the muppet quest at the end of last year (in which one of the questions featured part of the artwork on one of the wall in the first room) I have wanted to spend some more time looking at all the details in this incredible room!

Most people are more familiar with this part of the animation building as where the Beast's Library is (where you can find out which character you are most like) or Ursula's Grotto ( where you can place your voice in a disney animated character ). BUT if you zoom through the first room, you really miss the most amazing room of them all!

After you enter the room, turn around, or you just might miss this mural of Walt

And don't dash through the room without taking a closer look at those crystal stalagtite light fixtures. The one to the left of Walt, notice the horns in the fixture.

Yeah, that's the one. Now, take a closer look .......

I want that in my house!

Now, look at this other Curious light

and a little lower

And there are a couple of lighted murals that are just as beautifully detailed

And a closer look at the top side and bottom of the frame

Take a little time to create your own drawing and place it in motion, or watch some of the ones already in the cylinders, or on the walls.

Then look at these images in the glass capsules, and spin the handle

Flotsam and Jetsam are on the top(and notice some of the beautiful drawings on the walls!)

spin the handle on either side and two pictures become one

on the one above, ursula is on one side, and ariel is on the other side

Here is another lighted mural

you can see Zeus at the top center,

with the Hydra on either side

and Hades at the base

Another Crystal Light, by looking at the clues above the light, you might be able to find out who may be in there

And another Crystal Light

Although I'm not sure why the red light, maybe sybolizing the ruby that Abu was entranced by?

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Where is the entrance to the sorcerer's workshop? This may sound like a dumb question but I only started going back to DCA again after getting my AP this year and have never noticed other rooms surrounding the lobby. Is it hidden or am I just blind?

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Yeah, that was one of the issues they have tried to make better known to guests, in a variety of ways. Once you get inside, it's a beautiful lobby, but seldom on a first visit will you really get a chance to find out everything that this building has to offer.

It's easiest to explain by circling around clockwise as you enter the lobby.

Immediately to the left is Drawn to animation Animation Academy, which you learn how to draw Disney characters,

Next is the little covey, called Character Close Up, it has the Toy Story Zoetrope, and some wall displays showing a few of Disney animated movies, and the most current, or soon to come animated movie displays.

Next (continue going clockwise in the main lobby) you will find the entrance to the Sorcerer's Workshop, along the back wall. This appears to be a ramp that goes slightly downhiill.

Next (continue going clockwise in the main lobby ) is Turtle Talk

The final left, is for Off the Page, or for the main Exit.

Critter Country's a mess ev'r since the Country Bears were kicked out. Ya can't cover pooh with honey and 'spect people ta like it.

An Adventurers It'sTimetoPut the Spotlight BackonBring Back the REAL Disney Gallery